Spider structure



Sept. 26, 1961 D. B. WALKER SPIDER STRUCTURE Filed July 21, 1959 g z fwxM ATTORNEYS- United States Patent 3,001,781 SPIDER STRUCTURE Douglas B.Walker, Portland, reg., assignor to Esco Corporation, a corporation ofOregon Filed July 21, 1959, Ser. No. 828,615 3 (Ilainls. (Cl. 263-47)This invention relates to a spider structure, and, more particularly, toa spider structure employed for supporting coils, or the like, in anannealing furnace.

It is an object of this invention to provide a spider structure adaptedto support materials in an annealing furnace which is characterized bysuperior resistance to the stresses imposed by materials loading andthermal conditions. Another object is to provide a spider structure ofgenerally disc shape which is able to expand or contract duringtemperature changes at a nearly um'form rate between two circumferences.Other objects and advantages of this invention can be seen as thisspecification proceeds.

The invention will be explained in conjunction with an illustrativeembodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a fragmentarytop plan view of a spider element embodying teachings of the inventionand provided as a part of a base or separator plate assembly;

FIG. 2 is a diametric cross-sectional view of the spider seen in FIG. 1and a cover plate; and

FIG. 3 is a View similar to FIG. 2 but shows the lowermost or base plateassembly and which rests on the floor of the furnace.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the numeral designates generally a separatorplate spider and the numeral 11 a cooperating separator cover platetherefor.

In the typical annealing furnace, a plurality of separator plateassemblies, including the cooperating elements 10 and 11, are assembledin vertically-stacked, spaced relation, the spacing being achievedthrough a riser stool generally designated by the numeral 12. Thus, thespace between adjacent assemblies can accommodate a plurality of coils,or the like, for the annealing process.

The lowermost or base assembly is seen in FIG. 3 and is seen to includea base plate spider designated generally by the numeral 110 and a basecover plate designated generally by the numeral 111. In top plan, thespiders 10 and 110 have about the same configuration. The separatorplate spider 10 is equipped with an axiallyextending drilled hole 13 andthe base plate spider 110 is equipped with a larger axial opening 113.

Each cover plate is essentially disc-shaped and is equipped with anoutward taper, as can be readily appreciated from a consideration of thedrawing. The cover plate 11 is equipped with opposed bosses 11a and 11babout the axis thereof, boss 11b being received Within a recess 14 inthe top surface of spider 10. The upper boss 11a may be received withinthe circular axial opening 12a of another riser stool (not shown).

Each cover plate 11 or 111, as the case may be, has the top and bottomwalls thereof 15 and 16, and 115 and 116, respectively, angularlyrelated to provide an outwardly converging taper in the portion of theplate adjacent the plates periphery. The top surface of the spiders 10and 110, these top surfaces being designated by the numerals 17 and 117,respectively, are equipped with an outwardly, upwardly inclined annularportion which mates with the bottom walls 16 and 116 to snugly bearagainst the same. Exemplary of the taper provided in cover plates 11 and111, and therefore in the surfaces 17 and 117, is one inch in aboutsixteen and one-half inches of radial length. In this instance, thediameter of the cover plate 11 and 111 would be 46 /2", with the 16 /2"dimension being measured in from the periphery. Thus, there is provideda portion 18 and 118 in the two cover plates that is untapered. Thetaper referred to is provided in both top and bottom walls 15 and 16, or115 and 116, as the case may be.

Referring now to FIG. 1, it will be noted that the spider 10 is equippedwith a hub or central portion 19. When the spider 10 is installed in aseparator plate assembly, it will be oriented generally horizontally. Insuch condition, the arms 20, which radiate outwardly from the spider hub19, will be generally horizontal. The arms 20 are generally divergent,and can be characterized as having a compound radial contour in a planeperpendicular to the vertical center line of the spider. The compoundcurvature referred to can be best seen in FIG. 2, and with reference tothe portion 20a of each arm, which portion is immediately adjacent thehub 19, or, in other words, the shank-end of each arm 20. The portion20a is seen to be curved toward an adjacent armthe adjacent arm beingthat to which the end of an arm is attached as at 20a.

The compound curvature is further provided by a portion 20b of each armwhich is adjacent to the portion 20a but spaced from the hub 19. Theportion 20b is seen to be curved away from the adjacent arm-the adjacentarm being that one to which the arm in question is attached at its end20a. 7

Each arm 20 is provided with a portion 200 adjacent the. portion 20b andon the side thereof remote from the hub 19, which is arcuately outwardlydisposed. The portion 200 is seen to project radially outward a distancebeyond the end portion 202 and, in effect, defines oue of thecircumferences referred to hereinbefore. The other circumference isdefined by the hub 19. v

Connecting the portion 200 of each arm with the portion 20a is anessentially straight portion 20d. The I portion 202 can'be seen to beinwardly arcuately formed.

The overall configuration of each arm is that generally of a hook orinterrogation mark, whereby the end remote from the hub is closer to thehub than an intermediate portion-the intermediate portion being theportion designated 200. Each arm is integrally connected at one end, theshank end, with the hub 19 and at its other end with an adjacent arrn.

Each projecting portion 200 is equipped with an upstanding flange 21which serves to confine the cover plate 15 against lateral movement. Thespider is equipped with corresponding flanges 121 providing the sameoperation relative to the cover plate 111.

Each spider is seen to have anns having a diminishing cross-section asone proceeds from the shank end outwardly. Specifically, the width ofeach arm 20 decreases in proceeding from the portion 20a through theportion 20d. A taper in the vertical direction is provided in each arm20, as can be seen from a consideration of FIG. 2.

I have found that substantially all of the inherent differences in themagnitude of forces caused by thermal expansion and contraction aretransposed to adjacent spider arms by reason of the contour orconfiguration of the arms. This results in changing the diameter of acircumference in the horizontal plane through any given point on aspider arm at any one temperature, and thus compensating for thedifference in the magnitude of forces.

Example proximately seventy cycles without cracking or showing any otherdeleterious defects;

While, in the foregoing specification, I have set forth a detaileddescription of an embodiment of the invention for the purpose ofexplanation thereof, many changes in the details herein given will beappreciated by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

Iclaim:

l. A spider, comprising a unitary metal body having a central hub and aplurality of generally radially-extending, identical arms, each of saidarms having a first end connected to said hub and a second end connectedto an adjacent arm intermediate the ends of the adjacent arm, each ofsaid arms having a portion intermediate its ends projecting radiallyoutward a distance beyond the connection of said second end with saidadjacent arm, each of said arms, in proceeding from said first end tosaid intermediate portion, diminishing in cross-sectional area andhaving first a portion concavely related to said adjacent arm, second aportion convexly related to said adjacent arm, third a portion concavelyrelated to said ad jacent arm and providing said intermediate portion,and fourth a portion interconnecting the third portion and said adjacentarm.

2. A spider, comprising a unitary metal body having a central hub and aplurality of generally radially-extending, identical arms, each of saidarms having a first end connected to said hub and a second end connectedto an adjacent arm intermediate the ends of the adjacent arm, each ofsaid arms having a portion intermediate its ends projecting radiallyoutward a distance beyond the connection of said second end with saidadjacent arm, each of said arms, in proceeding from said first end tosaid intermediate portion, diminishing in cross-sectional area. andhaving first a portion concavely related to said adjacent arm, second aportion convexly related to said adjacent arm, third a portion concavelyrelated to said adjacent arm and providing said intermediate portion,and

fourth a portion interconnecting the third portion and said adjacentarm, the fourth portion including a straight part adjacent said thirdportion and an arcuate part adjacent said adjacent arm, said arcuatepart being convexly related to said hub.

3. A spider, comprising a unitary metal body having a central hub and aplurality of generally radially-extending, identical arms, each of saidarms having a first end connected to said hub and a second end connectedto an adjacent arm intermediate the ends of the adjacent arm, each ofsaid arms having a portion intermediate its ends projecting radiallyoutward a distance beyond the connection of said second end with saidadjacent arm, each of said arms having top and bottom Walls and inproceeding from said first end to said intermediate portion diminishingin cross-sectional area and having first a portion concavely related tosaid adjacent arm, second a portion convexly related to said adjacentarm, third a portion concavely related to said adjacent arm andproviding said intermediate portion, and fourth a portioninterconnecting the third portion and said adjacent arm, said thirdportion being equipped with a fiange upstanding from said top wallwhereby said top wall is adapted to receive and support a cover plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,673,575 Martin June 12, 1928 2,176,073 Harris Oct. 17, 1939 2,230,310Sammon et al Feb. 4, 1941 2,249,411 Woodson July 15, 1941 2,262,960Osterman Nov. 18, 1941 2,490,412 Burdette Dec. 6, 1949 2,607,577 StraubAug. 19, 1952 2,815,197 Blackman Dec. 3, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 619,292Great Britain Mar. 7, 1949

